I read an interesting article recently in the New York Times, which I subscribe to on my Kindle for years, about prospective employees disappearing when a drug test was to be held.  The article went on to say that all around America employers are struggling to find employees at the moment who can pass a free employment drug test, particularly amongst the white population.  Apparently this is not such a problem for applicants who come from Mexico and now with marijuana legalised in some States, they say that, for example in Colorado, “To find a roofer or a painter that can pass a drug test is unheard of”.  Another employer said that as soon as he says the words “criminal background check” or “drug test”, more than half the people waiting to apply for a job will leave straightaway!  

One must not forget of course that in the USA the unemployment rate is currently just over 5%, so the vast majority of people have a job.  At the end of the day it gets down to whether people want a job or not – those who want a job desperately enough are obviously going to give up drugs so that they can pass drug tests to get the jobs.  On another level it has become increasingly more popular or more common for private schools in particular to do random drug testing of students – which they do by taking hair samples which can apparently show up any drugs and the type of drug taken in the last three months.  Do you think schoolchildren should be tested for drugs and their parents advised if they do fail drug tests and what do you think about employees being tested?